give-up

[ giv-uhp ]

/ ˈgɪvˌʌp /

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See synonyms for give-up on Thesaurus.com

noun

something conceded or relinquished; concession: Labor has balked at any more give-ups in the contract talks.

Stock Exchange.

a commission shared among two or more stockbrokers.
a part of a commission that constitutes a single such share.

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of give-up

First recorded in 1965–70; noun use of verb phrase give up

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use give-up in a sentence

Of course it almost never happens,” she adds, “but people should not give up.
Putin’s Health Care Disaster|Anna Nemtsova|November 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
However, he asked her to give up her career as a political journalist—she subsequently became a book critic.
Hell Hath No Fury Like Valerie Trierweiler, the French President’s Ex|Lizzie Crocker|November 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There is no indication that either side is going to give up.
Intifada 3.0: Growing Unrest and a Plot to Kill an Israeli Minister|Creede Newton|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And we all know how long Rick has spent agonizing over how much of his old self to give up in order to stay alive.
The Walking Dead’s ‘Slabtown’: The Real Source of Terror Isn’t Walkers, It’s Rape|Melissa Leon|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST

He gave up because he was caught and he had no choice but to give up.
Killer Eric Frein Held in Murdered Cop’s Cuffs|Michael Daly|October 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If you have any thoughts of influencing me or my men to join the regular Confederate army, you may as well give up the idea.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
But the Mexicans were not the people to give up their best province so easily.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
Sometimes he would try to drive them away; but on being remonstrated with, would bewilderedly give up the attempt.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
I give up Kullak and my concert plan, thinking I'll study with Deppe and come out under his auspices.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
To lose a breath of the public approbation in his present state, were to give up fatally the only stay on which he rested.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various

British Dictionary definitions for give-up

give up

verb (adverb)

to abandon hope (for)

(tr) to renounce (an activity, belief, etc)I have given up smoking

(tr) to relinquish or resign fromhe gave up the presidency

(tr; usually reflexive) to surrenderthe escaped convict gave himself up

(tr) to reveal or disclose (information)

(intr) to admit one's defeat or inability to do something

(tr; often passive or reflexive) to devote completely (to)she gave herself up to caring for the sick

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with give-up

give up

Surrender, as in The suspect gave himself up. [1100s]

Stop doing or performing something, as in They gave up the search, or She gave up smoking almost thirty years ago. [c. 1600]

Part with, relinquish, as in They gave up their New York apartment, or We gave up all hope of finding the lost tickets. [Mid-1500s]

Lose hope for, as in We had given you up as lost. [Late 1500s]

Admit defeat, as in I give up—what's the right answer? [c. 1600]

give up on. Abandon, lose one's faith in, as in I gave up on writing a novel, or She gave up on religion years ago. [Colloquial; second half of 1900s] Also see give oneself up to.